Yaa Asantewaa

Yaa Asantewaa was the eldest of two children born to Kwaku Ampoma and Ata Po in Besease, southern Ghana, around 1840. Afrane Panin, her brother, rose to the position of chief of the neighboring hamlet of Edweso. She grew crops on the grounds near Boankra after a trouble-free upbringing. She married a man from Kumasi in a polygamous marriage, and the two of them had a daughter. Yaa Asantewaa witnessed some events that jeopardized the Ashanti Confederacy's future under her brother's rule, including a civil war that raged from 1883 to 1888. Yaa Asantewaa utilized her authority as Queen Mother to designate her own grandson as Ejisuhene upon the death of her brother in 1894. Yaa Asantewaa became regent of the Ejisu–Juaben district after the British deported him to the Seychelles in 1896, along with Prempeh I, the King of Asante, and other Asante officials (Yaa Asantewaa. (n.d.).

The Ashanti Kingdom

• Asantehene (King):

Ruled over the Ashanti people, with support from a council of elders and various local chiefs.

• Queen Mother:

In the Ashanti Confederacy, the matrilineal system was significant, queen mothers like Yaa Asantewaa held authority and played a pivotal role in governance.

• In the late 1800s and early 1900s the Ashanti Kingdom traded with Europeans (mostly the British) and other African kingdoms. Some products that were traded were textiles, weapons, and wine for gold, ivory, and kola nuts. 

• The Ashanti Kingdom was part of the "Gold Coast," which was rich in gold. Controlling this wealth was important to the British, who had been trading with the Ashanti for decades.

• The vast majority of people were farmers who grew products that were vital for both domestic use and international trade, including yams, cassava, maize, plantains, and palm oil.

Notable Events

Tension with the British and growing opposition to colonial expansion began under the reign of King Akwasi Afram Yaa Asantewaa's brother. Yaa Asantewaa collaborated with him in advising and supporting the preservation of Ashanti customs and political stability. Akwasi Afram led his forces in defeating the kingdom against the British. But despite Ashanti's success, the kingdom had to sign a peace deal and give up some of its territory (McCaskie T.C. McCaskie, 2019).

After the death of her brother, King Akwasi Afriyie, who had no heir, Yaa Asantewaa gained notoriety because she was already an important figure as the Queen Mother “Asantehemaa.” Despite her considerable authority as Asantehemaa, Yaa Asantewaa occasionally had to handle internal conflicts with caution. She was very politically savvy in her participation in choosing a new king following her brother's death when the royal court was divided (A. Adu Boahen, 2003).

Yaa Asantewaa led the Ashanti-British War in 1900. The British wanted to seize the Golden Stool which was a revered artifact that symbolized the Ashanti people's spirit. Yaa Asantewaa responded by organizing the Ashanti army and making the well-known statement, “If you, the men, will not fight, then we, the women, will." She refused to let the British take the stool and led her forces into battle (A. Adu Boahen, 2003).

The Ashanti forces were defeated and Kumasi came under British control, Yaa Asantewaa and other Ashanti leaders were sent to the Seychelles. However, she managed to hide at Golden Stool and the British never got their hands on the Golden Stool which remained hidden by the Ashanti people. She remained a symbol of pride and defiance for the Ashanti people, and her exile did not lessen her impact (A. Adu Boahen, 2003).

Courage

One of Yaa Asantewaa's most distinctive qualities was her courageous leadership. She was prepared to take on the colonial powers head-on in addition to standing up for her people. She had extraordinary bravery and was well known for her famous quote during the Ashanti-British War, "If you, the men, will not fight, then we, the women, will.”

Resilience

Yaa Asantewaa showed resilience. She remained dedicated to the Ashanti cause even after Kumasi fell to the British and she was sent into exile. She symbolizes resistance and inspired not only the Ashanti people but other African countries under colonial persecution.

Strategic Vision

Yaa Asantewaa was a military leader who showed keen strategic thinking. During the conflict with the British, she utilized the Golden Stool, the kingdom's most revered emblem, as a focal point and a strategic advantage since she recognized how important it was to preserve it. Her vision for an inclusive approach to defense was demonstrated by her ability to bring her people together, especially women who had historically not participated in combat.

Inspiring Leadership

The most amazing quality of Yaa Asantewaa was her ability to motivate people. She had the ability to inspire women to join the military and help the war effort in addition to troops. Her charisma and leadership skills are demonstrated by her capacity to inspire people, especially in the face of colonial persecution. Even now, she is used as a symbol in Ghana to showcase strong women. 

Reference:

Yaa Asantewaa. (n.d.). Www.ghanaweb.com. https://www.ghanaweb.com/person/Yaa-Asantewaa-175

Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother Of The Ashanti - Celebrating Black history & Black culture. (2022, August 6). I AM History. https://www.iamhistory.co.uk/home/yaa-asantewaa

Yaa Asantewaa and the fight for the Golden Stool. (2018). In BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-44772345

‌McCaskie T.C. McCaskie. (2019). Asante Identities. Edinburgh University Press.

A. Adu Boahen. (2003). Yaa Asantewaa and the Asante-British War of 1900-1.